The Five Most Overused Children's Book Plots

We all know how a preschooler's capacity for repetition can make bedtime reading a mind-numbing experience for parents. Even good books can devolve into nothing more than well-illustrated tranquilizer darts by their thirtieth or fortieth readings ("Seriously? Olivia Saves the Circus again?"). What's even more frustrating, though, is when you manage to vary the books and yet you still feel like you're reading the same story over and over. Picture book publishers can help us out by putting a moratorium on certain overused plots. If you have a child, you've read these stories before:

1. Mommy Animal Tells Baby Animal How Much She Loves Him
It doesn't matter if the writer uses A-list animals like bunnies and monkeys, or if they try to "mix it up" with zoological curiosities like lionfish and okapi -- it's still the same story. And how does the mommy animal love her baby? Usually in a way that can only be described with an overly cutesy made-up word, like "huggymuffins" or "kissyflowers." Sample title (that I made up): I Love You Like Snuggleblossoms, Baby Poison Dart Frog.

2. Child at School Gets Teased for Being Different Until Teacher Tells Everybody How Cool the Odd Child Actually Is
The kid in question could be an outcast because of her long name, the strange foreign food she eats, or any number of other xenophobic reasons, but in the end the rest of the class always want to be just like her. Sample plot: When Chauncey enters his new kindergarten class, all the other kids make fun of his peg leg, until the beloved teacher, Miss Empathetski, points out to all the children that she has a wooden arm. The next day the entire class comes to school donning prosthetic limbs.

3. Caterpillar Turns into Butterfly
This little tidbit of entomology may contain a certain wow factor for toddlers who hear about it for the first time, but seriously -- how many people do we need to break this news? This metamorphosis is the "shocking twist" at the end of so many picture books that preschoolers are likely to become jaded in the face of a bona fide miracle of nature. "Look, Billy, a cocoon!" "Yeah, whatever, Mom. It's a butterfly inside. Big whoop."

4. Child Doesn't Want to Go To Bed, Falls Asleep Anyway
I'd bet that many authors write these stories as a way of introducing children to the concept of irony. But when an author's book is the fifth or sixth a child has read with the same plot, it actually becomes a lesson in predictability. Ironic.

5. Seasons Change, Shock Baby Animal
The goggle-eyed forest creatures in these generally lovely and lyrical books never cease to be astounded by the melting of snow, the resurgence of flowery blooms, and the return of spring. Unfortunately, we do.
Related: When Big Authors Write for Little People

TheTalkies:RelatedVideos

Death Comes to Pemberley and Four More P.D. James Books to ReadThe hugely popular mystery writer P.D. James who sold millions of books around the world and created stories that were adapted into television series and feature films died Thursday, aged 94. In her career, which spanned five decades, she wrote books defined by the strong characters she created.

'Made for You' Official Book TrailerThrilling contemporary romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this southern Gothic, racy thriller - a story of small-town oppression and salvation.

'The Jewel' Official Book TrailerFrom debut author Amy Ewing comes an enchanting story full of riches, rivalries, and riveting twists... perfect for fans of 'The Selection' series.

...and don't forget the one where the kid/ baby monkey/ whatever is given clear rules, disobeys them anyway, causes a horrible mess/disaster and in the last couple of pages still manages to save the day (usually culminating in a parade).

Although it is nice to offer your child some lesson in behavior and learning "tolerance" is always a good thing, perhaps we should get back to having stories that are just fun or funny. Also, it seems to me, the "need" for the "newest book" or bland "isn't the world cute" stories may get in the way of originality.

When I was young - a thousand years or so ago - I had read to me and eventually read myself: "And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street" (Dr. Suess, originally pub in 1937). In fact it sits on a shelf above my desk! I read it to my grand-daughter when she was to young to fully grasp its "social importance" (ah hem). It's wonderful for its goofy pictures and ryhme. For very young children, just hearing your voice may be more important.

Also don't rule out some other "classics". Depending on the child's age or your capacity to make the story exciting there is:The ORIGINAL "Pooh" stories, and Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verse".

There are also some interesting versions of old nursery stories too, designed for bedtime telling. Try an old book like one the child's Grammy or Pappy liked - just for fun!

rofl hilarious. i just finished reading Bunny, My Honey to my little one and sat down at the computer. lol yup another mother animal telling her baby how much she loves him. if you want to read a really good kids book try Pout-Pout Fish its funny and cute and doesn't suffer from over-used plot syndrome. the author is deborah diesan.

Even if these plots are overdone. They work. They help kids and that's the point. They all have different artwork and kids enjoy them. When my daughter was little she loved them all and she remembered the point of the book. They're for kids, remember? Read an adult book for yourself if you're tired of the 'same old, same old' with your kid.

Did anyone think to ask this author what pithy book for children he has written, if any? Where does AOL dig up these legends-in-their-own-mind columnists?

I have a news flash for you, Christopher Healy: it isn't about the novelty of the story line. To a toddler, it's about cuddle time with mommy/daddy, the soothing sound of their voices, the wonderful pictures using a variety of art media in the publications, and the story itself. What parent HASN'T read one favorite story until catatonia sets in for them and, hopefully, sleep for the child?

What a jaded little creep you are, Christopher. The simple life lessons and experiences of the plots you revile are basic building blocks of a profound world-view. Namely, feel loved, don't be afraid to be different, beauty comes from humble beginnings and the world we live in is filled with wonder and an amazing power of regeneration. The fact that you find sharing these lessons with the very young mind-numbing and frustrating to your sense of entertainment speaks only to who you are, not to the shortcomings of the lessons themselves. And like all good stories for the very young, we are brought full circle: what a jaded little creep you are, Christopher.

i'm not entirely disagreeing, there are untold stories floatiing out there....waiting to be told..i am all for that, big time, but why is it, given the numbers on this subject, that children and teens and adults still shun the disabled. i speak from direct experience. or that we don't realize this life is a journey, at best...of transformation from crawling to flying...or that we each unique and that's great to march to a different drummer as opposed ot going along with the lemmings...and that our uniqueness is to be celebrated, not reviled...or that, maybe most importantly, we are loved...and worthy of it....so that we can become more loving...these are life changing lessons...but something in these stories, even when repeated ad naseum, ain't gettin' thru... maybe one more...well done..just might do it...xjudith

Christopher, I'm a preschool teacher and yes, I do agree with you as far as there are a lot of books out there with the same moral themes, however, you need to step into your local library and check out the children's books. There are hundreds of kids books out there with different themes. Most, but not all, have a moral to them. But some, Chris, are just down right silly. This helps keep the adult reading it entertained. If moms, dads, caretakers, and teachers get board they wont want to buy anymore books from that author. Now, if your preschooler has no moral lessons being taught to them in school would you really think we were doing our job? (and that expensive tuition is going for what?) Not every child in my class wins at a game, but they will come in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on. They do need to know a game is something to work hard at. I also never let them win. And you know Chris, they love it. When they do come in 1st at a game against me they are so proud of themselves, along with all the other children around them. They will high five the child that just beat me. As far as teaching your children morals, there are a lot of parents out there that think it is our job alone and not there's. It's a shame parents aren't teaching their own children. They are little sponges, those beautiful little people, and absorb everything around them. So if they see or hear mom or dad being negative towards another person then they take that to school and treat not only the other children with no respect but also us teachers, My point is, keep on reading those repetitive moral stories. Just like riding a bike, it doesn't come easy, practice practice practice. They will be running our country someday and without respect of ones self or for others our lives will pretty much suck. Thank you Christopher for letting me vent and ramble a bit.

I think what he's saying is that we need more stories like the Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter. Giving life lessons to your kid is great, but sometimes they should get to see a book that isn't *all* about 'moral of the story'. My Dad read me The Hobbit when I was young; he may have made up half the stories, but I remember the spider bit clearly and it helped expand my vocabulary. If you're looking for actual kids' books, though, I highly recommend Lois Lowry's. Number the Stars is RL: 5.2 (Reading Level age 5 and two months), but still a good book, and The Giver is great. Alongside that, though, I was also read a five-page Power Rangers book by my Mom, who hates to read. There *are* books you can find, but you need to look closely.

LOL at the people getting all riled up about a tongue-in-cheek, funny little article. I feel bad for your kids, because obviously they aren't going to grow up with a sense of humor. OH NOES. SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING I DISAGREE WITH ON THE INTERNET. TIME TO PULL OUT THE PERSONAL ATTACKS AND CALL PEOPLE CREEPS. What a great lesson to teach your kids, amirite?

Sersiously, people. It's a little in-joke for us parents to share with each other, because we can ALL relate to having this sort of thought at least ONCE (and likely much more than that). That doesn't mean that we don't still read the books, or we don't think that they "work," or we don't enjoy the time we get to spend with our children while we read to them. Pull your heads out of your anal sphincters and learn to laugh at yourselves and at life. Getting your panties in a twist over something like this is totally ridiculous. Oooh man. Internet articles are SRS FKN BZNS.

Kace, you have some inportant ideas to share, but it's difficult for those of us who are literate to appreciate what they are in a post so full of basic misspellings and confused syntax. I do hope you aren't under the impression that "there's" refers to something that belongs to them or that "board" is a state of mind. Altogether I counted 13 errors in sentence structure--from someone who teaches kids! Yes, it does matter when the writer identifies herself as a teacher.

Well Frima, aren't you just full of yourself? Why so nasty? Kace made some excellent points. It's nice sometimes to just listen and not retort to just feel superior. With your attitude I wouldn't want you as a teacher and I really hope you're not in education. Kace could take care of my children anytime.